CiTi Halls Abuzz As IT Takes To New Heights

With the flip of a few switches, the unmistakable buzzing of drones come to life as student pilots look to move fast, take chances and score by hovering through the other team’s hoop.

The sport is drone soccer, a sport that combines goal achievement and strategy with all the complexities that come with flying a collision aidless drone – with other pilots also attempting to score in a space no bigger than a storage locker.

This sport and all the drones and equipment are the latest addition to the Center for Instruction, Technology & Innovation’s Instructional Technology toolset, rolling out instructional technology integration and opportunity across Oswego County.

“Recognizing that we were close to one of few BVLOS (beyond visual line of sight) corridors in the world, we felt that it was imperative to offer this emerging technology to our students,” said CiTi IT Integration Specialist Mark Buchanan.

In addition to drone soccer, the IT department is developing a curriculum which can be deployed anywhere from third grade to 12th which aligns to state Computer Science and Digital Fluency Learning Standards, but also includes a hands-on skill development and career exploration. The IT team also has a drone kit with a number of small indoor drones, larger recreational drones, DJI sport drones and a couple of FPV drones.

Buchanan said CiTi’s component districts share the kits between schools for clubs, special instruction days plus STEM/STEAM events. One CiTi department has even used drone soccer as part of a professional development day.

“I’m super excited and proud that Mark and our team are supporting drone programs here at CiTi and throughout our county,” said CiTi Director of Technology Stephanie Maturo. “The work Mark and the team are doing supports programs that range from beginner drone skills through FAA Part 107 certification, paving the way for exciting and innovative job possibilities for our students.”

Buchanan said he approached Maturo about obtaining a drone license in 2019 to bring drone technology to local schools, and since then the program has taken off.

While he has had many special moments and interactions, Buchanan recalls taking an elementary group of students out during a drone summer camp in Phoenix and the students were amazed by how high it could fly.

“They couldn’t take their eyes off it,” recounts Buchanan, who added that one simple moment yielded an engaging conversation about FAA restrictions, visual line of site (VLOS), altitude and pilot versus visual observers.

To learn more about IT offerings, including drone soccer, and how to incorporate these items into a local curriculum, contact the CiTi IT Department.

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